Maytag Settles Your Household Debate—There Is a Right Way to Load the Dishwasher

Dishwashers can save you literal loads of time spent cleaning up your kitchen. While dishwashers have come a long way since the first hand-crank model, if not used properly, they can leave you with less than sparkling results. EatingWell spoke with a Maytag expert to find out everything from how to load and maintain a dishwasher to what products to use for the cleanest dishes.

Yes, the Way You Load the Dishwasher Matters

According to Lindsay Jones, Maytag integrated brand manager, there is a correct way to load a dishwasher to maximize its cleaning power. If you’ve ever haphazardly loaded dirty dishes into your dishwasher only to be frustrated when they don’t come out clean, you may want to read on to find out how to use your dishwasher like a pro. Here’s how you should really be loading dishes, glasses and more.

Dinnerware

Lower racks are intentionally designed to be larger than upper racks, providing room for larger items like dinner plates and soup bowls. Stack these items between the tines, facing the center of the spray arm to ensure that they stay upright during cycles and are properly spaced and angled for effective cleaning and drying. If your dishwasher does not have a dedicated spray arm for the upper rack, avoid overstacking the lower rack to allow the water from the lower spray arm to reach the dishes at the top.

Drinkware

Jones says that the upper rack is optimal for drinkware (like glasses and mugs) as well as smaller plates and bowls, and that these items should be placed facing downward to prevent pooling. Upper racks also commonly feature angled surfaces; this, along with the tines, helps keep dishes secured and also helps drain off excess water from the exterior bases of mugs or glasses. If your dishwasher features an additional rack, like Maytag’s 3rd Level Rack, Jones recommends using it for additional cups and small bowls and placing extra utensils in the dedicated slots.

Utensils

Jones explains that facing forks and spoons upward is essential for getting a proper clean, while sharp kitchen tools like knives and vegetable peelers should be pointed downward to make unloading safer.

Pots, Pans and Serveware

“Heavy items like pots and pans […] should be loaded on the bottom rack as they need additional room,” says Jones. “Place the soiled portion of the dishes toward the center of the appliance so the spray arm can reach properly.” Serving dishes and bakeware should also be placed on the bottom rack at an angle for enhanced cleaning.

Cutting Boards

While dishwashers and dishwasher detergents can damage wood cutting boards, they can effectively clean plastic and glass cutting boards, and they even help prevent foodborne illness when using high-temperature or sanitize cycles. Place each cutting board vertically between rows of tines and along the sides to maximize dishwasher space.

Fragile Items

Fragile items like crystal and lightweight plastic containers are best hand-washed to avoid damage, but many are dishwasher-safe when placed on the upper rack. Like cups and other small items, fragile items should be stacked facing downward at an angle.

Expert Tips for Getting Dishes Sparkling Clean

In addition to loading your dishwasher properly, these expert tips can help ensure that your dishes come out as clean as possible.

Do Not Block the Spray Arms

The spray arms are the most important dishwasher feature when it comes to getting your dishes properly cleaned. Jones says that if they are blocked, water may not be able to reach all areas of the dishwasher, which can result in poor cleaning results. So be sure that no items extend below the racks, and that taller items on the bottom rack do not block the upper spray arm from rotating.

Choose the Correct Cycle

Depending on your dishwasher’s model, you may have up to about eight cycle modes, including quick wash and heavy cycles. For a superior clean and the most efficient use, check your dishwasher’s instruction manual to learn which cycle best matches your needs. For example, never choose a quick wash cycle for heavily soiled items, and avoid sanitize modes for fragile items, as the high temperature can cause thermal shock and lead to cracks, chips and shattering.

Do Not Pre-Rinse Dishes

“Start by removing hard items like any leftover fibrous produce, bones or toothpicks as these items can clog the appliance’s filter, [but] do not pre-rinse or wash dishes before they are loaded in the dishwasher,” Jones advises. “Maytag dishwashers, in particular, are designed to handle all tough messes and most modern dishwasher detergents are designed to interact with food particles on dirty dishes, so rinsing them beforehand may actually lessen the effectiveness of the detergent and cleaning cycle.”

Perform Regular Maintenance

Jones names dirty and clogged filters as the number one reason that dishes don’t come out clean after a cycle. “Cleaning and maintaining appliances regularly helps to clear grime and grit from dishes,” she says. “Household cleaning supplies like vinegar and baking soda are suitable options to clear food and debris for deep cleaning at least once a month.”

How to use vinegar and baking soda to clean dishwashers: “Add two cups of white vinegar to a lidless, dishwasher-safe container on the lower rack of the empty dishwasher,” Jones says. “Start a normal cycle, without detergent, with the heated dry option off. Once this cycle is complete, sprinkle one cup of baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher tub and run a hot water cycle to deodorize.”

How to clean dishwasher filters: “The filter should be cleaned between once a week to once a year, depending on how often the appliance is used,” says Jones. “[Some] dishwashers have three filters with two parts, which can be located in the appliance manual and user guide. After locating the filter, rinse it under warm water, using a soft brush to remove any debris and grime, and then carefully replace it. It is not recommended to use a wire brush or scouring pad, as they may damage the filter.”

Recommended dishwasher detergents and rinse aids: Jones says that you should consider soil levels and formulas when selecting the correct dishwasher detergent and rinse aids. While there are dozens of products to choose from, Jones explains that liquid and gel detergents are generally better than powders at cleaning and reducing film on dishes, and are suitable for most water hardness and soil levels. Rinse aids can also help reduce film and spots. Just be sure never to use dish soap intended for hand-washing, as it can create a thick foam that may leak out of and damage your dishwasher. 

The Bottom Line

A few simple steps are all that’s required to maximize your dishwasher’s cleaning power. Proper loading is one of them. Be sure to stack items methodically, and avoid overcrowding and blocking spray arms. In addition, Jones says to remove large pieces of food from dirty dishes, but don’t rinse or prewash them, since most dishwasher detergents are designed to work better this way; choose the cycle that best matches soil levels; and finally, keep up with regular maintenance, including cleaning the filter and running empty cycles with vinegar and baking soda.